AETIOLOGY
etiology, aetiology
(noun) the philosophical study of causation
etiology, aetiology
(noun) the cause of a disease
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
aetiology (countable and uncountable, plural aetiologies)
The establishment of a cause, origin, or reason for something.
The study of causes or causation.
(medicine) The study or investigation of the causes of disease; a scientific explanation for the origin of a disease.
Usage notes
• Not to be confused with etymology.
Source: Wiktionary
Æ`ti*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. aetologia, Gr. étiologie.]
1. The science, doctrine, or demonstration of causes; esp., the
investigation of the causes of any disease; the science of the origin
and development of things.
2. The assignment of a cause.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition